PHILIPSBURG — Today, Monday, September 2, 2019, the Anti-Corruption Taskforce (TBO) detained a Member of Parliament on St. Maarten. He is suspected of accepting bribes, (co-)committing official coercion and abusing his position. The suspect was arrested in the past on suspicion of comparable facts in connection with another investigation. The Anti-Corruption Taskforce (TBO), specializes in tackling corruption and undermining financial economic crime. Among other things, the team investigates fraud, forgery and money laundering. UPDATE Due to several calls and emails about for a comment about the detention of MP Frans Richardson, below is a short comment for now from the…
Author: The Publisher
By Hilbert Haar How is it possible that St. Maarten is the only island where the “local media” is from everywhere else in the world BUT St. Maarten? Thus begins a Facebook-post by historian Will Johnson. Pseudo journalist Michael Granger put in his two cents in a reaction to this question. Unfortunately it does not make a lot of sense. If Johnson refers with the term “local media” to journalists who actually write (or wrote) stories for local media outlets he is right in the sense that there are no locals working in this industry. But his observation that those…
Dear Editor, TBO is the team for betterment of oppression. That is the true meaning of the abbreviation. There is no interest of discovering the truth. The only objective is to get a story plausible enough to go before a judge, with a conviction guaranteed. Lawyers, Police officers and civilians alike make constant remarks that it looks as if we no longer need lawyers in this country. It is evident in court cases that prosecutors make no effort in court to present their cases, that lawyers fight a well-supported battle, and judges just waltz passed it all to convicts. There…
PHILIPSBURG — “The ‘ownership’ of the property may already be illegal.” says MP Rolando Brison in response to an opinion piece by independent journalist Hilbert Haar published on StMaartenNews.com. Haar’s take on the inquiry is that it is indeed time for appropriate action, however, he writes, buying or expropriating Mullet Bay is not going to be a walk in the park. “I think its a fair assessment to some extent but it has not gone far enough into what is expected of the Mullet Bay inquiry.” wrote MP Brison. It’s an okay take, he added. Hilbert Haar’s opinion piece titled “Time…
By Hilbert Haar Giving back Mullet Bay to the people – the lofty objective behind MP Rolando Brison’s proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into the state of affairs with the location of the former Mullet Bay Resort – is not going to be a walk in the park. Brison’s proposal puts Mullet Bay in the spotlights and that is of course a good thing. But how are you going to “give it back to the people?” There are two options: buy it or expropriate it – and they both look easier than they really are. The property’s ownership is no…
PHILIPSBURG – The Social Economic Council (SER) represented by the Chairman ir. Damien Richardson and the Secretary-General, Mr. Gerard Richardson paid a visit to the Honorable Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin, and presented her with the SER’s joint Migration Symposium report. On October 26th 2018, a cooperation protocol in the field of labor migration and population policy, was signed by the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. The three Prime Ministers gave their full support and endorsed the initiative of the SER’s of the three countries to organize a joint symposium on the theme. As result of the…
PHILIPSBURG — Director of SZV Glen A. Carty and Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings signed a letter of intent on Friday August 23rd regarding the outstanding social & health insurances premiums owed by Government to SZV. The letter of intent outlines a structured approach to address the repayment of the outstanding amount of approximately 91 million guilders, accumulated over many years by the Sint Maarten Government. Both Carty and Geerlings are eager to start this new chapter and permanently resolve the financial backlog. “While we have always had a good understanding with Government regarding the repayment of the debt, we…
Philipsburg – In a recent letter to Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (ECYS), Honorable Wycliffe S. Smith, regarding English as the first official language for St. Maarten, Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams reminded the Minister “how crucial this matter is in the process of nation building, and transparency and openness towards the community.” Wescot-Williams presented two “English Language” motions respectively in 2015 and 2016, which were unanimously passed by Parliament. Last year, the motions were brought to the attention of the Minister for his Ministry’s follow-up. “Responses have not been forthcoming – however I remain adamant…
Willemstad/Philipsburg – The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) acts as Agent on behalf of the government of the Country of Sint Maarten to issue the following government bond: Bond of Sint Maarten – August 2019/2044 for the principal amount of NAf. 30,000,000. Please note that the date for this government bond issue has changed due to procedural circumstances. More information about this issuance will be announced soon. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our Treasury department at (599 9) 434-5792 or (599 9) 434-5741. Willemstad, August 28, 2019…
Sound policy response needed WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG – “The deepening current account deficit of the balance of payments of the monetary union and gradual slippage in the gross official reserves require a sound policy response,” stated Bob Traa, the acting president of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten in the Bank’s 2018 Annual Report. The deficit on the current account of the balance of payments widened in 2018 compared to 2017 as a result of a decline in the net export of goods and services, moderated by an increase in the net current transfers received from abroad. “The net exports…
